M ALL TO IMPROVE THE BIODISPONIBILITY OF OSPEMIPENE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for improving the bioavailability of ospemifene and closely related compounds by oral administration of said compounds in connection with food consumption.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The publications and other materials used herein to illuminate the background of the invention, and in particular, cases to provide additional details with respect to the practice, are incorporated by reference. "SERM" (selective estrogen receptor modulators) has estrogen-like properties and antiestrogenic properties (Kauffman &Bryant, 1995). The effects may be tissue specific such as in the case of tamoxifen and toremifene which have estrogen-like effects on the bones, effect similar to partial estrogen in the uterus and liver, and pure antiestrogenic effect in breast cancer. Raloxifene and droloxifene are similar to tamoxifen and toremifene, except that their antiestrogenic properties dominate. Based on published information, many SERMs are more likely to cause menopausal symptoms than to avoid them. However, they have other important benefits in older women: they decrease total and LDL cholesterol, thus decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and can prevent osteoporosis and inhibit the growth of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. There are also almost pure antiestrogens in development. Ospemifene is the Z-isomer of the compound of formula (I)
and it is one of the major metabolites of toremifene, which is known to be an estrogen agonist and antagonist (Kangas, 1990, international patent publications WO 96/07402 and WO 97/32574). The compound is also called (deaminohydroxy) toremifene and is also known in accordance with code FC-1271a. Ospemifene has relatively weak estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects in classical hormonal tests (Kangas, 1990). It has anti-osteoporosis actions and decreases LDL and total cholesterol levels in experimental models and in human volunteers (international patent publications WO 96/07402 and WO 97/32574). It also has antitumor activity at an early stage of the development of breast cancer in an animal breast cancer model. It has been shown that ospemifene is also the first SERM that has beneficial effects in climacteric syndromes in healthy women. The use of ospemifene for the treatment of certain climacteric disorders in post-menopausal women, mainly vaginal dryness and sexual dysfunction, is described in WO 02/07718. The published patent application WO 03/103649 describes the use of ospemifene for the inhibition of atrophy and for the treatment or prevention of diseases related to atrophy or disorders in women, especially in women during or after menopause. A particular form of atrophy to be inhibited is urogenital atrophy, which can be divided into two subgroups: urinary symptoms and vaginal symptoms. Ospemifene is a highly lipophilic compound. Although ospemifene has an excellent tolerance, a problem is the low aqueous solubility and preferably the low bioavailability. Therefore, when administered orally, daily doses of around 60 mg or more are recommended. There is a great need to provide administration methods that result in improved bioavailability of ospemifene, and therefore the effect of feed intake on ospemifene is studied.
OBJECTIVE AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved oral method for administering ospemifene, wherein the bioavailability of the drug is substantially increased. Thus, the invention relates to a method for improving the bioavailability of a compound of (I)
or a geometric isomer, a stereoisomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an ester thereof or a metabolite thereof, wherein said compound is administered to the individual in connection with the consumption of food.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows the average serum concentration in mammalian individuals (n = 24) of ospemifene versus time after the administration of 60 mg of a fasting ospemifene tablet (open circles) and after a high-fat food and with high caloric content (filled circles). Figure 2 shows the average serum concentration in male individuals (n = 12) of ospemifene versus time after the administration of 60 mg of a fasting ospemifene tablet (open circles); after a food with high fat content, and high caloric content (filled circles) and after a food with low fat content and low caloric content (stars). Figure 3 shows the average serum concentration in male individuals (n = 12) of ospemifene metabolite 4-hydroxy-ospemifene versus time after administration of a fasting 60 mg ospemifene tablet (open triangles); after a food with high fat content and high caloric content (filled triangles) and after a food with low fat content and low calorie content (crosses).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Although it was previously known that certain lipophilic drugs can benefit from the administration of the drug together with the consumption of food, the resistance of the effect of the consumption of food after the bioavailability of ospemifene obtained in the investigations of the present was very surprising. Particularly purchased with the behavior of other SERMs, the dietary effect on ospemifene is important. It was found (Anttila M., 1997) that food consumption has no positive effect on the bioavailability of toremifene, which like ospemifene also has low aqueous solubility. It has been observed that food consumption actually retarded the absorption of toremifene. It has also been reported that the administration of raloxifene, other than SERM, together with a standardized high-fat food increases the absorption of raloxifene slightly, but does not lead to clinically important changes in systemic exposure. Although the consumption of food causes only an increase of 20% of absorption of raloxifene, the effect on the absorption of ospemifene is an increase of 2-3 times. The term "food" should be understood to cover any edible food material with a nutritional value as an energy supplier. In this way the food can be solid, semi-solid or a liquid substance comprising one or more carbohydrates of basic ingredients, fats and proteins.
Surprisingly, a high percentage of fats or a high energy value in the feed intake is not crucial to obtain a high bioavailability for ospemifene. Nor is the amount of food consumption for the beneficial effect crucial. It is believed that secretion of bile acids can play an important role in improved bioavailability, and therefore any food product capable of causing bile acid secretion is expected to function. The drug is considered to be administered in conjunction with the feed intake if the drug is administered at a point in time shortly before the start of feed intake, during feed intake or in a relatively short time after the feed is completed. food consumption. A preferable time scale is defined to start 1 hour before starting the feed intake and finish 2 hours after the start of feed intake. More preferably, the drug is administered at a point in time that is on the defined scale to start at a point in time during the feed intake and finish 1 hour after the feed intake starts. More preferably, the drug is administered during the consumption of food or at a point in time that does not go beyond 0.5 hours after the start of food consumption. The method for improving the bioavailability of ospemifene and related compounds according to the invention is particularly useful when dealing with women during or after menopause. Nevertheless, the method according to this invention is not restricted to women in this age group. The term "metabolite" should be understood to cover any ospemifene or metabolite of (deaminohydroxy) toremifene already discovered or to be discovered. As examples of said metabolites, mention may be made of the oxidation metabolites mentioned in Kangas (1990) on page 9, (TORE VI, TORE VII, TORE XVlll, TORE VIII, TORE Xlll), especially TORE VI and TORE XVlll, and other metabolites of the metabolites. compound. The most important metabolite of ospemifene-4-hydroxiospemifene, which has the formula
(The use of mixtures of isomers of compound (I) should also be included in this invention.The method for improving bioavailability is useful in any application of ospemifene, especially when the compound is used for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis or for treatment or prevention of symptoms related to skin atrophy, or with epithelial or mucosal atrophy.
A particular form of atrophy that can be inhibited by administering ospemifene is urogenital atrophy. The symptoms related to urogenital atrophy can be divided into two subgroups: urinary symptoms and vaginal symptoms. As examples of urinary symptoms may be mentioned in disorders of micturition, dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency, sensation of urgency, urinary tract infections, inflammation of the urinary tract, nocturia, urinary incontinence, impulse incontinence and involuntary urinary effusion. Examples of vaginal symptoms include irritation, itching, burning, malodorous discharges, infection, leucorrhoea, vulvar pruritus, pressure sensation and postcoital bleeding. According to previous data, the optimal clinical dose of ospemifene is expected to be greater than 25 mg daily and less than 100 mg daily. A particularly preferable daily dose has been suggested in the range of 30 to 90 mg. At higher doses (100 and 200 mg daily), ospemifene shows properties more similar to those of tamoxifen and toremifene. Due to the improved bioavailability according to the method of this invention, it can be predicted that the same therapeutic effect can be achieved with lower doses than those recommended above. The invention is described in more detail in the following non-restrictive experimental section.
EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
Two clinical studies were carried out in order to evaluate the bioavailability of ospemifene in healthy male subjects after consumption of a high caloric content (860 kcal) and a breakfast with high fat content compared to the bodysponibility of ospemifene administered in condition in aid (study A). In a separate study (study B), the bioavailability of ospemifene after consumption of a low caloric content (300 kcal), breakfast with low fat content was evaluated and the results compared with those obtained in study A (ie , the bioavailability of ospemifene after the consumption of a breakfast with high caloric content, and high content of fats or after ospemifene that is administered in a fasted condition).
Study A In study A, 24 healthy male volunteers (average age of 23.8 years, average BMI of 22.8 kg / m2) received a single oral dose of 60 mg of ospemifene, once a low-powered condition after consuming a breakfast with high fat content and high standardized caloric content, and once after fasting during the night. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic evaluations were plotted for 72 hours in each study period. A washout period between the two treatments was at least two weeks. The breakfast consisted of the following ingredients: 2 eggs fried in butter (50 g), two strips of bacon (34 g), two slices of toast with butter (50 g), 60 g of grated potatoes and 240 ml of whole milk (percentage of fat = 3.5%). The food provided approximately 150, 170 and 540 kcal of protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively.
Administration of ospemifene in connection with a high-fat, high-calorie test food: After an overnight fast of at least 10 hours at the study site, the subjects were given a test food described above 30 minutes before dosing ospemifene (one 60 mg tablet). The food should be consumed in 30 minutes, immediately followed by the administration of ospemifene.
Administration of ospemifene in fasting condition: After an overnight fast of at least 10 hours at the study site subjects were given an ospemifene tablet (60 mg) with 240 ml of water. No food was allowed for at least 4 hours after the dose of ospemifene.
Results of study A A substantial effect of the uptake of food on the bioavailability of ospemifene and its main metabolite 4-hydroxyospemifene was observed. Figure 1 shows the average concentration in the serum of ospemifene against the time after administration of the 60 mg ospemifene tablet under fasting conditions (open circles) and after a meal high in calories and fats (circles stuffed). The results of this study clearly showed that the bioavailability of ospemifene increased with the concomitant ingestion of ospemifene and a meal. Due to the surprising and promising results of this study it was decided to carry out a second study (the following study B) to find the effect of a low calorie and fat meal on the bioavailability of ospemifene.
Study B In study B, 12 healthy male volunteers (mean age 23.8 years, average BMI 22.3 kg / m2) of the 24 subjects of study A, underwent administration of ospemifene in combination with the ingestion of a meal with low content of calories and with low fat content. The results were compared with those obtained in study A for the same individuals.
Administration of ospemifene in connection with low-calorie, low-fat food: The composition of the light breakfast (approximately 300 kcal) was as follows: two slices of toast with margarine (5 g, 60% fat content) ), 6 slices (30 g) of cucumber, 340 ml of skim milk (without fat) and 100 ml of orange juice. The test meal provided approximately 50, 180 and 70 kcal from the proteins, carbohydrates and fat, respectively. After a night of fasting for at least 10 hours at the study site, the subjects were given the test meal described above, 30 minutes before the dose of ospemifene (60 mg tablet). The food had to be consumed in 30 minutes, immediately followed by the administration of ospemifene.
Results of study B Figure 2 shows the average concentration in the serum of ospemifene against the time after administration of the 60 mg ospemifene tablet under fasting conditions (open circles, data obtained from study A); after a high-calorie, high-fat meal (filled circles, data from study A) and after a low-calorie, low-fat (star) meal. Figure 3 shows the average concentration in the serum of the metabolite of ospemifene 4-hydroxy-ospemifene against the time after administration of a 60 mg tablet of ospemifene under fasting conditions (open triangles); data obtained from study A); after the meal with high content of calories and with high content of fats (filled triangles, data obtained from study A) and after a meal with low content of calories and with low content of fats (crosses). The results of this study clearly demonstrated that the bioavailability of ospemifene also increased with the concomitant ingestion of ospemifene and a low-calorie, low-fat meal. Although the fat content of the low-fat meal was much lower than that of the high-fat meal, the bioavailability of ospemifene was only slightly lower for the low-fat meal. Therefore, it can be concluded that the effect of the food on the bioavailability of ospemifene does not depend on the fat content of the food eaten. Instead, the stimulation of bile flow due to the ingestion of meat can increase the solubilization of ospemifene. It will be appreciated that the methods of the present invention can be incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, of which only a few are described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are other modalities and that they do not depart from the spirit of the invention. In this way, the modalities described are illustrative and should not be considered as restrictive.
REFERENCES
Anttila M. Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of toremifene. Eur J Cancer, 1997; 33, suppl 8: 1144, 1997. Kangas L. Biochemical and pharmacological effects of toremifene metabolites. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 27: 8-12, 1990. Kauffman RF, Bryant HU. Selective estrogen receptor modulators. Drug News Perspect 8: 531-539, 1995.